Sen. Bob Jauch's replacements crystallize stances on mining issues

By
KBJR News 1

July 6, 2014Updated Jul 6, 2014 at 3:24 PM CDT

MINONG, Wis. (NNCNOW.com) --- The race to replace retiring Wisconsin State Senator Bob Jauch is heating up as the Republican and the Democratic candidates barnstorm the state's largest Senate District.

After serving two terms in the Wisconsin Assembly, Janet Bewley is seeking the Democratic nod to move to the upper chamber in the Wisconsin legislature.

Bewley's run comes after the retirement announcement of Senator Jauch. Jauch is supporting Bewley's campaign for Senate.

"A very damaging bill was passed about mining," Bewley said as she campaigned in Gordon. "We are faced with the kind of decisions with how do we deal with what could potentially happen."

Bewley is crystallizing her stances on mining issues in Northern Wisconsin, a hot button issue in the sprawling district.

"I have to stand with the people who elected me in say we are very concerned about this particular mine under this particular law," she added.

If Bewley earns enough votes come August against her two Democratic opponents, she will face another obstacle: running against her republican rival.

"I don't want to be a politician, I want to be a statesman," Dane Deutsch said as he campaigned in Minong Saturday.

Deutsch, the republican candidate running for Senate District 25, is talking up his 20 years in the private sector as a small business owner.

Moreover, Deutsch says his experience while serving three tours in the United States Air Force in Turkey and his background in technology makes him uniquely qualified to represent the fourteen county district.

"The rhetoric in the past has been, we need responsible mining - environmentally responsible mining - and I totally agree with that," Deutsch said. "In the Scouts we always used to say you leave your camp cite better than you found it."

On Saturday, Deutsch renewed his support for mining initiatives

"We have enough technology as well as enough people who know they need the jobs to hold the mining company accountable and make sure we do have environmentally responsible mining, so that is where I stand," Deutsch said.